Finding The Trend With Aroon

In 1995 Tushar Chande, a principal of Tuscarora Capital Management and author of "The New Technical Trader" (1994) and "Beyond Technical Analysis" (2001), developed the Aroon indicator to determine trend direction and strength. The indicator's greatest value is in helping traders and investors to distinguish whether a long-term trend is ending or simply stalling before another move. This article will show you how to calculate and apply the Aroon indicator to your own trading.

Calculating Aroon The Aroon indicator can be calculated using the following formula:

If we take a look at these formulas, it is apparent that they are both looking at how recent the latest highs and lows were. Higher Aroon values indicate more recent highs and lows, while lower values indicate less recent highs and lows. Moreover, the Aroon values oscillate between 100 and 0 - a higher number indicates a stronger trend and vice versa.

The two Aroon indicators (bullish and bearish) can also be made into a single oscillator by making the bullish indicator 100 to 0 and the bearish indicator 0 to -100 and finding the difference between the two values. This oscillator then varies between 100 and -100, with 0 indicating no trend.

Using the Aroon IndicatorThe Aroon indicator is used by plotting the bullish and bearish versions on the same sub-chart, or by plotting the oscillator on a single sub-chart.

The key to successfully using the Aroon indicators lies in watching two things:

Crossovers Between the Bullish and Bearish Indicators - Crossovers indicate confirmations if they occur between 30 and 70. For example, if the bullish indicator crosses above the bearish indicator, it confirms a bullish trend.

Let's take a look at an example:

Figure 1

Here we have an example of Titanium Metals (TIE), a stock that recently trended strongly on increased demand for titanium. Notice that when the Aroon indicators were on opposite ends of the 30-70 barriers, the price was in a strong trend. Also note that when crossovers occurred within the 30-70 barriers, it often signaled a confirmation of the new trend.

The Aroon oscillator is a bit simpler, but provides less information. The key levels to watch are 50, 0 and -50. When the oscillator moves above 50, it indicates a strong bullish trend. When it hovers around 0, it indicates the lack of a definitive trend. And finally, when it breaks below -50, it indicates a strong bearish trend.

Let's take a look at the same chart using the oscillator:

Figure 2

Here we can see very similar information but with a lack of confirmations because there is no crossover possible with an oscillator.

It is important to realize when looking at these charts that the Aroon indicator is lagging and, therefore, is susceptible to sharp price drops or increases. Therefore, it is very important to use other methodologies in order to exit prudently. For example, watching for high volume reversal candles is a good way to get out at the right point in the event of a sharp price reversal. Stop-loss points set at key support levels are another good way to control risk.

Investors may prefer the oscillator because it is easier to read and tends to have less contradictory signals. Meanwhile, active traders may appreciate the additional information given by the two indicators. It is up to you to determine which methodology works best for your needs and apply it to your own trading. They both offer an excellent way to determine whether a trend exists, and how strong that trend is.

ConclusionThe Aroon indicator is used best by traders and investors interested in whether or not a trend is still intact. It can help traders avoid inefficient use of capital by allowing them to seek other opportunities during sideways markets and only hold positions during strong trends. However, it is important to watch carefully and analyze stocks using other studies in conjunction with Aroon to avoid the primary weakness in this system - sharp price movements.